Leafs get ready for Murdoch Division in November
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Nelson Leafs begin the month of November at the top of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s Murdoch Division, a slim one-point ahead of the red-hot Beaver Valley Nitehawks.
And if the Leafs have any hope of ending the month atop the divisional leader board, winning against divisional opponents is a must — especially the lowly Spokane Braves.
Nelson kicks off a two-game weekend series with the US-based squad Friday at 7 p.m. in the NDCC Arena.
The two teams complete the series Saturday back in the Lilac City.
Nelson has owned the Braves this season, winning all three games while outscoring Spokane 15-1.
The Leafs have used a balanced scoring attack, combined with a stingy defence to dominate the Braves.
Steady diet of Murdoch Teams in November
After playing most of the 17 games to date against Eddie Mountain competition, Nelson is slated to see a lot of Murdoch Division teams in November.
Six of the club’s eight against are against Murdoch Division rivals. After this weekend, Nelson faces Grand Forks twice and Castlegar twice.
Nelson finished the month of October with a 6-2-0-1 record.
Not even a sniff by KIJHL Awards Committee
Nelson spent most of October in top spot in the Murdoch Division.
And so has Leaf goalie Josh Williams spent most of the month at the top, or near the top, of the goaltending leaders.
Yet, Williams did not even garner an honourable mention when the top player of the month awards were announced.
No one is debating the month Beaver Valley goalie Owen Sikkes turned in, but Williams currently is ahead of the Hawks backstop in goalie stats, who just happened to garner an honourable mention to the top player in the Kootenay Conference, Matt Davies.
Other honourable mentions went to Liam Plunkett of Creston Valley, Vince Bitoni of Castlegar and Jordan Robertson of Grand Forks.
Brett Witala of Kelowna Chiefs won the Okanagan Conference award.
